The lively voices of students filled the school hallway at lunchtime. Some joked around while carrying lunch boxes, others jogged lightly toward the cafeteria. Raku walked side by side with Shu, followed by Onodera, Ruri, and Chitoge not too far behind.
Shu patted Raku's shoulder enthusiastically.
"Let's eat lunch together. I'm starving to death!"
Raku was a little surprised by the pat, but then nodded calmly.
"Alright, let's go."
They had only taken a few steps when a group of students stopped in front of them. In the middle of the group was a young man whose aura immediately drew attention: his smile was warm, his demeanor calm, as if all the light in the hallway gathered around him.
"Hayato-kun!" some girls whispered, holding back small giggles.
Hayato Hayama stepped forward, his expression kind.
"So… you're the new student with Amnesia?" he asked politely.
Raku stopped, slightly confused, then nodded.
"Ichijou Raku. I don't know who I am… so yes, I suppose that's true."
Hayato extended his hand.
"Hayato Hayama. If there's ever anything, you can rely on me."
Raku looked at the hand for a moment before shaking it innocently.
"Alright. Nice to meet you."
They shook hands briefly. Hayato kept smiling, but behind him Yumiko tilted her head, her gaze sharp, as if she were judging whether Raku's words about amnesia were truly real.
Raku then let go of the handshake, bowed slightly, and said,
"Well then… I'll go ahead. I'm hungry, I want to get to the cafeteria."
Shu quickly pulled Raku aside, passing Hayato's group in a hurry. Onodera, Ruri, and Chitoge followed. The hallway returned to its usual bustle once they were gone.
In the cafeteria, the aroma of miso soup, curry, and sweet bread blended together. A long line filled the front lanes. Raku picked up a tray, then piled on rice, side dishes, soup, and several extras without hesitation.
Shu stared wide-eyed.
"Seriously? You're going to eat all that?"
Raku turned to him calmly, showing no guilt whatsoever.
"I'm really hungry. Don't worry, I can finish it all."
They sat at an empty table, a little away from the crowd. Shu was still dumbfounded, while Onodera covered her mouth with a small smile, Ruri folded her arms across her chest, and Chitoge sighed as if she were already used to Raku's oddities.
Shu leaned closer, whispering.
"Do you know who that was earlier? Hayato Hayama. Handsome face, popular, always the center of attention. Damn… I'm so jealous of a guy like him."
Raku paused, looked at Shu, then answered plainly.
"Being popular… is troublesome, isn't it?"
Ruri quickly turned her head. Onodera froze for a moment, while Chitoge set down her chopsticks with slight surprise.
Shu gaped. "Why… would you think that?"
Raku lowered his gaze briefly, then spoke in a flat but honest tone.
"Because you wouldn't be able to enjoy time alone or any free time. Sometimes people need peace… rather than the noise around them."
His words left the table silent for several seconds. Shu couldn't reply, only scratched his head. Onodera looked down, her face slightly red, as if touched. Ruri gazed at Raku deeply, as if trying to read some hidden meaning behind his words. Chitoge exhaled sharply, pretending not to care, but her eyes occasionally drifted toward Raku.
Raku straightened his posture, then placed his hands together in front of the food.
"Itadakimasu."
He began eating calmly. One by one, the others followed, the table's atmosphere returning to normal, though Raku's words still echoed in each of their minds.
Leaving the cafeteria, the school corridor was full of footsteps from students just done with lunch. Raku strolled casually with Shu, Onodera, Ruri, and Chitoge. They chatted lightly about the cafeteria food, until suddenly—
BAM!
A student came running with dramatic flair, his brown jacket fluttering, glasses flashing under the neon hallway lights. His arms were outstretched as if gliding through a fantasy world.
"Hohoho!" he cried loudly, making several students turn in confusion. "So this is… the amnesiac protagonist sought by fate! Tell me, Ichijou Raku… is your past shrouded in darkness? Are you bound by an ancient oath with the seven-eyed demon?!"
"Eh…?" was all Raku could mutter, bewildered.
Shu immediately stepped forward, raising a hand as if to stop a speeding train.
"Stop! Don't start with your Chuunibyou nonsense, Zaimokuza. Raku really has total amnesia, he's not some anime character in your head."
"True…" Onodera added softly, lowering her gaze and clasping her hands in front of her chest. She recalled something—on New Year's, the goddess Amaterasu herself had wept before Raku. Zaimokuza's words seemed to stir that hazy memory.
Chitoge glanced sideways at Onodera, her expression slightly tense. 'So… I'm not the only one who feels something strange behind Raku's amnesia…'
Zaimokuza crossed his arms over his chest, then chuckled darkly.
"Fu… fu… don't try to hide it, oh followers. A dark past cannot be concealed forever. Very well! I am Yoshiteru Zaimokuza, but you may call me… Zaimokuza! Remember my name, oh protagonist bound by a grim fate!"
With exaggerated flair, he grabbed Raku's hand and squeezed it tightly.
Raku was a little confused, but finally replied politely, "Ichijou Raku… well, that's all I can say."
Zaimokuza leaned in, his eyes gleaming behind his glasses. "Heh… very well. Then we shall meet again in another world!"
And with a sudden movement, he bowed deeply, then dashed off down the hallway with a full-on Naruto run, arms stretched straight back.
The hallway went silent for a moment. A few students stared at the scene oddly, then returned to their activities.
Ruri finally let out a long sigh, then looked at Raku.
"Raku-kun… for your own good, stay away from people like that. They can spread their stupidity."
Shu nodded, though his face struggled to hide a laugh. "Haha, yeah… though I gotta admit, Zaimokuza is unique. But still… dangerous for normal people."
Raku just nodded quietly. "I… don't know what he meant just now."
Onodera lowered her gaze, her lips pressed shut, as if she wanted to say something but held it back. Chitoge also looked away, masking her serious expression with a casual air.
And as they continued walking, Zaimokuza's strange laughter still echoed faintly at the end of the corridor, lingering like the remains of an unfinished dream.
The corridor grew quieter, the sound of shoes echoing softly. Raku walked with Shu, Chitoge, Onodera, and Ruri, slowly returning to class. Afternoon sunlight streamed in through the large windows, casting long shadows on the wooden floor.
Back in class, students began sitting again, some busy opening books, others chatting quietly. Raku entered slowly and went straight to his seat by the window. He sat down, his gaze empty as he stared outside at the calm blue sky.
But in his head, fragments of hazy memories kept spinning endlessly.
Isolated Planet… Arc of Embodimen… Strong worlds… Outer God…
The chibi AI's words repeated, making his chest feel tight. As if something important was there, but his fingers could never quite reach it.
"Oi."
A quiet voice came, followed by a light touch on his shoulder. Raku turned slightly. Chitoge was standing beside him, leaning in, her face a little annoyed.
"Don't keep spacing out. What happened earlier, you don't need to think too much about it."
Raku was silent for a moment, then smiled gently. He raised his hand, softly patting Chitoge's head with a sincere gesture.
"Alright… thank you for worrying about me."
For a moment the classroom felt silent. Chitoge's eyes widened in shock, then her face flushed red instantly like a ripe tomato. She straightened up quickly, turning her head away, pretending to cough.
"Ba… baka! That's not what I meant!" she shouted half-angrily, then hurried back to her desk.
Raku only smiled faintly, as if unaware of how much his words had just made someone's heart race.
Shu, sitting not far away, couldn't hold it anymore. He covered his mouth, but a chuckle slipped out.
"Hahaha… Raku, you're… so innocent. You're dangerous for girls."
Ruri sighed, closing her book softly. "Hhh… truly troublesome. Someone like him doesn't even realize the effect he has."
Onodera still looked at Raku quietly from the other side of the class. Her heart trembled seeing how natural and genuine Raku was—not forced, yet strong enough to leave Chitoge unable to respond. She gripped the edge of her skirt, her lips curling into a faint smile despite the strange warmth spreading in her chest.
At the back, Iroha Isshiki happened to notice the scene. She blinked, slightly surprised.
"Eh? That's… just like the innocent-boy-and-tsundere-girl couple in romance dramas, right?"
Her hand touched her chin, her eyes sparkling, as if she had just found free entertainment.
Meanwhile, Raku turned his gaze back outside the window, a faint smile still lingering on his face. But deep within his mind, the shadow of the Isolated Planet and the chibi AI's voice still echoed.